Posted on: Monday, June 7, 2004

GOP convention ends with eye on House

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Hawai'i Republicans wrapped up their three-day statewide convention in Waikiki yesterday, hopeful that a youth movement within its candidates ranks will help them gain a majority in the state House of Representatives for the first time since the landmark "Democratic Revolution" election of 1954.

They face a daunting task. The Democrats held a 36-15 majority in the 2003-2004 Legislature after the Republicans lost four seats during the 2002 election. That left the GOP without the 19 votes in the House necessary to sustain vetoes made by Republican Gov. Linda Lingle during her first two years in office. Republicans say short of gaining control of the House, their "consolation prize" would be to gain back those four seats.

Rep. Guy Ontai, R-37th (Mililani, Waipi'o), said the Republicans have a good shot at achieving a majority." We need 11 to win the majority, and I think we've recruited around 20 outstanding candidates, so I think our chances are good," Ontai said. "We've certainly given the public lots of choices in many races, and I think we're going to contest them very well."

GOP chairman Brennon Morioka said the "we can do it together" theme of the convention is an allusion to taking over the House. "It's a very high goal to set for our party considering we've never even come close to picking up 11 in an election," Morioka said. "But I think we're coming together as a team and I think together we can achieve our goal."

Many GOP veterans pointed to the significant number of younger candidates as a major reason for their optimism. At least 10 Republican House hopefuls are under 40.

"What I'm excited about are the youth in the candidates," said Bob Awana, Lingle's chief of staff and longtime political advisor. "If you look around the room, you'll see a wide range of ethnicities, of gender, of age and statewide involvement," he said.

Awana's comments were echoed by candidate Tracy Okubo, 24, who is challenging Rep. Brian Schatz, D-25th (Makiki, Tantalus). The public is "beginning to see us as a more diverse group versus the stereotypical older-white-man party."

The broad range of candidates on the GOP slate this year exemplifies that philosophy, she said. "A lot of us are people you'd never expect to be Republican."

Former Kaua?i Mayor Maryanne Kusaka, who will challenge Sen. Gary Hooser, D-7th (Kaua'i, Ni'ihau), also said the presence of younger candidates was more evident this year. "It's just delightful to see the young people get involved and want to be leaders of our state," she said. "I think that's critical to our survival."

Lingle said the Republican Party gets added benefits from recruiting younger candidates. "What's so great about the young candidates is that they bring a lot of young people with them on their campaigns," the governor said. "And that just adds to the enthusiasm and the excitement." She credited Morioka and his predecessor, Micah Kane, both of whom are under 35, for stressing the youth movement.

Morioka, in turn, said many young Republicans saw Lingle's initiatives during her first two years in office blocked by the majority Democrats and now want to do something about it. "People are getting upset that what they voted for in 2002 is just not happening," he said.

Kaipo Duncan, 34, said he joined the Republican Party two years ago because he was inspired by the 2002 election of Lingle, the first Republican to become the state's top executive in four decades. "I felt that our governor had an excellent vision for our state and I wanted to be a part of that vision," said Duncan, who is running for the Salt Lake-Moanalua seat now held by Rep. Glenn Wakai, D-31st (Salt Lake, Tripler).

Keoki Leong, 24, said that elections in Hawai'i are no longer about what party candidates belong to but about what an individual can achieve. "They told me they don't care. They just want to see someone out there working hard for them," said Leong, who is going up against Rep. Ken Ito, D-48th (Kane'ohe).

Rep. Kika Bukoski, R-12th (Upcountry Maui), for whom Leong served as legislative office manager the past two years, said that younger GOP candidates like his protégé are so enthusiastic that he cautions them to pace themselves through the November general election. "You want to time it so you peak on Nov. 2," he said.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.